July 4 2024 MANHATTAN, New York – Three people are dead with several others reported seriously injured after an alleged drunk driver plowed into a group of people celebrating July 4th at Corlears Hook Park in lower Manhattan.
According to police, nine people were struck, leaving four trapped underneath the vehicle after the driver of a Ford F-150 pickup truck was traveling down Water Street at a high rate of speed and ran a stop sign.
Two victims died soon after the collision, and a third victim was pronounced deceased overnight.
Several people remain hospitalized including an 11-year-old boy, who were all rushed to Bellevue, New York Presbyterian Downtown, Mount Sinai Beth Israel and NYU Langone.
Two victims who perished in the crash caused by the alleged inebriated driver Thursday evening were identified as Hernan Pinkney, 38 and his mother Lucille Pinkney, 59, who lived together in a apartment near the park.
The suspected drunk driver taken into police custody at the scene was identified as 44-year-old Daniel Christopher Hyden. He has been charged with drinking under the influence after mowing down a group park goers celebrating the 4th of July in lower Manhattan.
Hyden was subdued and restrained by other park goers and witnesses of the crash until officers arrived on scene. He sustained injuries to the head and face and was transported to Bellevue Hospital, cops said.
The incident is not being considered an act of terrorism at this time and more charges will be announced pending a full investigation.